Artificial tree



J. J. DORAN 2,214,046

ARTIFICIAL TREE Filed Dec. 2, 1938 INVENTOR V ATTORNE shipping.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL TREE John J. Doran, Fredericton, New Brunswick,

Canad Application December 2, 1938, Serial No.. 243,485

8 Claims.

This invention relates to artificial trees wherein the trunk portion is of permanent form adapted to releasably support branches of a natural tree, which branches may be removed from the trunk when they are dried out or dead, or the use of the tree has temporarily ended.

It is an object of the invention to provide a trunk composed of a plurality of sections adapted to be readily assembled to form a trunk and separated for the purposes of storing and It is another object of the invention to provide means for releasably retaining the branches in the trunk by the inherent resiliency of the branches, and said means being readily actuated to permit removal of the branches from the trunk.

In carrying out the embodiment of the invention, there is provided a plurality of tapering sections having means at the ends thereof to interconnect said sections to form a tapering trunk adapted to be mounted on a suitable supporting base. Each of the trunk sections is arranged with a series of spaced downwardly inclined pockets or holes for receiving the trimmed ends of branches of natural trees, and the branches are releasably retained in the pockets under the inherent tension or resiliency of the branches by means movably mounted on the trunk section relative to each pocket and adapted to be actuated to engage the branches mounted in the pockets and flex said branches over abutments fixed in the trunk sections adjacent the pockets, whereby the resiliency of the branches will maintain the branches in forceful engagement with the movable means and abutments, and retain the branches in the pockets.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is an elevational view of an artificial tree having the features of the invention embodied therein.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary and composite view of two sections of the trunk showing the manner of uniting the sections and forming a unitary.

trunk.

Figure 3 is an elevational View of the top section of the trunk.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the movably mounted means for flexing the branches over the abutments.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a trunk section showing a branch retained in a pocket by the movable means and abutment, a

pocket in condition for the reception of a branch with the movable means positioned from the pocket, and a branch mounted in a pocket without being retained therein by the movable means and abutment. 5

Figure -'7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a modified form of movable means and manner of mounting said means and the abutment.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the modified form of movable means shown in Figure 7.

In carrying out the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, there is provided a trunk comprising tapering sections 9, I9, and II, each section having a corresponding taper to form a trunk tapering up- 15 wardly when the sections are united. The sections are united by arranging the upper or tapered end of section 9 with a circular recess I2 extending axially into said section for the engagement of a projection or dowel I3 extending 20 axially from the lower end of section I0, as shown in Figure 2. The upper end. of the section II] is arranged with a projection or dowel I4 to engage a corresponding recess I5 in the lower end of the section II.' The upper end of the section II is 25 arranged with a recess I6 for the mounting of a branch of a natural tree, such as pine, spruce or hemlock, as shown at H in Figure 1, to assimilate the top of a natural tree. All of the sections of the trunk adjacent the recesses I2, I5 and 30 projections I3, I4, are reduced in circumference to provide reduced portions I8 for the engagement of an annular member or sleeve I 9 to maintain the projections I3, I4 in engagement with he recesses I2, I5, respectively, and said sleeves 5 may be retained on the section I9 to facilitate the engagement of the projections I3, I4 with the corresponding recesses I2, I5.

The assembled trunk sections 9, I0, II are supported in an upright positionby a suitable base, 0 as shown at 20 in Figure 1. The lower trunk section 9 is secured to the base by a projection and recess connection similar to the connections I2, I3 and I4, I5, the preferable form of connection being a projection extended from the lower or large end of the section 9 and a recess in the base 29. The connection between the section 9 and base 20 is secured by angle brackets having perforations in the angle portions for engaging screws in the section and base, as shown at 50 The trunk sections are solid and arranged with a series of spaced pockets or elongated holes 2?; for the mounting of branches of natural trees, such as pine spruce or hemlock, in the trunk sections. The holes are inclined downwardly into the trunk sections toward the large ends of said sections, and the holes are spaced circumferentially and longitudinally of said sections to assimilate a natural tree. The number of holes will be greater in the top section I I than the intermediate section 10, and the number of holes in the intermediate section l0 will be greater than the number of holes in the bottom section 9 to further assimilate a natural tree. In the present illustration of the invention, there are shown five holes equidistantly spaced circumferentially around the trunk sections, as shown in Figure 5, but it should be understood that the holes may be indiscriminatingly positioned around the trunk sections to more closely assimilate a natural tree. The diameter of the holes will also vary in the different trunk sections, so that diameters of the holes and the size of the branches will proportionally decrease upwardly from the bottom section 9 to the top sectime i l. The holes 22 are extended into the solid trunl; sections a distance to sufiiciently support the branches, and it has been found that said distance is less than half the diameter of the trunk sections, so that a plurality of holes may be extended into the trunk sections at the same level, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The inner ends of the branches are trimmed and mounted in the hole 22, as indicated at 23, and are releasably retained in the holes 22 by the inherent tension of the branches. This purpose is accomplished by providing abutments to engage and support the lower longitudinal portions of the branches, said abutments being in the form or U shaped members, and it has been found that the ordinary staple will satisfactorily serve this purpose. In Figures 1, 5 and 6, the U members or staples are fixed in the trunk sections above the holes and extend at an obtuse angle to the axes of the holes, as shown at 24 in said figures, with the transverse portions of said members extending in spaced horizontal relation to the entrance of the holes, as shown at 25 in Figure 6, so that the trimmed ends of the branches mounted in the holes will extend through the abutments with the lower longitudinal portions of the branches in proximity with the transverse portions of the abutments. The U members or staples may be fixed in the trunk sections below the holes and extend at an acute angle to the axes of the holes, as shown at 26 Figure '7, whereby the branches 23 mounted in the holes 22 will be above the members it with the lower longitudinal portions of the branches in proximity with the transverse portions of said members. When the U members are fixed in the trunk sections, as shown at 26, the transverse portions of said U members may be curved inwardly corresponding to the curvature of the branches, as shown at 21 in Figure 7, to provide a confining support for the branches. In both methods of mounting the U members, as shown at it, 25, said members will extend from the trunk sections at an acute angle to the portions of the trunk sections arranged with the holes 22, as shown in Figures 6 and '7.

Thebranches are releasably retained in the holes 22 by slightly bending or flexing the branches over the transverse portions of the U members 24, 2B and retaining the branches in said condition. This manner of securing the branches in the trunk sections is accomplished by a member mounted on the trunk sections to have movement toward and away from the upper longitudinal portion of the branches opposite the longitudinal portions engaged by the abutments 2Q, 26, and said member adapted to engage and flex the branches against the abutments. In Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6, this member comprises a rectangular metal plate 28, which may be slightly resilient, having one end portion reduced and folded upon itself to form a loop 29 having a. restricted entrance thereto formed by extending the end of the folded portion toward and parallelly of the body of the plate, as shown at 3%. The plates 28 are loosely mounted on the trunk sections by engaging the loops 29 on the transverse portions of U shaped bracket members 3!, which are preferably staples, fixed in the trunk sections in vertical alinement with and spaced above the holes 22 and abutments Z lor 26. The distance between the U brackets 3i and the upper longitudinal portions of the branches mounted in the holes 22 is slightly less than the length of the plates 28, so that the forceful engagement of the free ends of the plates 28 with the upper longitudinal portions of the branches will cause the bending of the branches over the transverse portions of the abutments 2% or "26, as shown at 32 in Figures 6 and '7. The forceful engagement of the free ends of the plates 23 with the branches will also cause a slight flexing of the plates, and said flexing of the plates 28 combined with the flexing of the branches will retain said branches in the holes 22 until the plates are released from the branches. To maintain the engagement of the plates 28 with the branches, the free ends of the plates are serrated, as shown at 33 in Figures 4 and 6. The plates 28 are easily attached to and detached from the U brackets 3! by placing the loop 29 below the bracket with the folded portion 38 adjacent the trunk section, as shown at the right hand side of Figure 6, so that by an upward movement of the plate, it is attached to the U bracket, and by a downward movement of the plate, it is detached from the U bracket.

A modified form of the member for flexing the branches over the abutments 25 or 26 and retaining the branches in the holes 22, is shown in Figures 7 and 8 as comprising a rectangular plate 3 3 having one end bent or offset from the body of the plate, as at 35, with the offset end arranged with an opening 36. The plates 34 are mounted on the trunk sections to have movement toward and away from the trunk sections to engage the free ends of the plates with the upper longitudinal portions of the branches mounted in the holes 22 and bend the branches over the abutments 24 or 26. This is accomplished by a headed member 3'1, in the form of a nail or tack, engaged in the opening 36 and driven into the trunk sections with the head spaced from said trunk sections to permit movement of the plates at toward and away from the trunk sections. The hole 36 is slightly larger than the diameter of the headed member 3i to also permit said movement of the plates 34. The offset portions 55 will position the free ends of the plates 34 to engage the upper longitudinal portions of the branches in opposed relation to the engagement of the lower longitudinal portions of the branches with the transverse portions of the abutments 24 or 26. The free ends of the plates are also serrated, as at 38, to prevent accidental disengagement of the plates 34 from the branches.

In both forms of retaining means 28 and 34, the branches may readily be removed from the trunk sections by slightly flexing said branches to remove the tension of the retaining means, and when the tension is removed from the retaining means, said retaining means are actuated from the branches to permit the branches to assume their normal straight position and the removal of the branches from the holes 22.

The trunk sections 9, H], H in assembled condition and with the branches removed from the holes 22, may be utilized as a drying rack when the U brackets 3! are used, by removing the retaining plates 28 and engaging into the U members 3| and 24 or 26 the bent end of a rod for supporting the articles to be dried.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In means: for retaining branches in an artificial tree trunk arranged with a series of spaced downwardly inclined pockets for receiving the trimmed ends of branches, an abutment fixed in the trunk and extended therefrom at an angle and adjacent to each pocket, and a member loosely mounted at one end on the trunk above each pocket with the free end adapted to engage and flex a branch engaged in a pocket against the abutment.

2. Means for retaining branches in an artificial tree trunk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutments extend at an acute angle to the trunk relative to the pockets.

3. In means for retaining branches in an artificial tree trunk arranged with a series of spaced downwardly inclined pockets for receiving the trimmed ends of branches, an abutment fixed in the trunk adjacent each pocket and extended therefrom to engage the branches mounted in the pockets, and a member loosely mounted at one end on the trunk in spaced relation to each pocket and in alinement with the abutment with the free end adapted to engage and flex the branches mounted in the pockets against the abutments.

4. In means for retaining branches in an artificial tree trunk arranged with a series of spaced downwardly inclined holes for receiving the trimmed ends of, branches, U shaped members fixed in the trunk with the transverse portions of said members extending in spaced relation to the holes to engage the branches mounted in the holes, and an elongated plate loosely mounted at one end above each hole with the free ends adapted to engage and flex the branches mounted in the holes against transverse portions of the U members.

5. Means for retaining branches in an artificial tree trunk as claimed in claim 4, wherein the U shaped members are fixed in the trunk intermediate the holes and the mountings of the plates, and the branches mounted in the holes extend through the U shaped members in contact with the transverse portions of said members.

6. Means for retaining branches in an artificial tree trunk as claimed in claim 4, wherein the U shaped members are fixed in the trunk below the. holes with the transverse portions of said members positioned to extend transversely of the holes.

'7. In means for retaining branches in an artificial tree trunk as claimed in claim 4, U-shaped brackets fixed in the trunk in spaced relation to the holes and U shaped members, and the elongated plates arranged at the mounting ends thereof with loops adapted to be loosely engaged on the brackets to provide swinging movement of the plates relative to the branches mounted in the holes.

8. In means for retaining branches in an artificial tree trunk as claimed in claim 4, a member having a head at one end and adapted to be fixed at the other end to the trunk with the head spaced from the trunk and in spaced alinement with each hole and U shaped member, and the elongated plates having an opening at the mounting ends thereof to mount the plates on the headed members and provide swinging movement to the free ends of the plates and said plates being bent outwardly from the mounting ends to position the free ends to engage the branches in opposed relation to the engagement of the branches with the transverse portions of the U shaped members.

JOHN J. DORAN. 

